It's not a case of only thinking that way but remember we are building a Premiership team, not a finals team. There are not many a Premiership teams that I can think of that didn't have a true FF in their team. You can paint the picture any way you like but year after year after year the model remains the same, in the big games you need someone to stand under the ball kicked under pressure and mark it. And then kick the goal. There is no point being cute about this, the game has shown that the grand final is won by mature, strong, big bodies. This is what our recent drafting has focused on and what our target must be going forward is a KPF with these attributes. 195-200cm, well built, can mark and can kick. I am very, very strong on this.
Panna, if you don't think C Grant , K Templeton and even T Modra would outmark Patton eleven days a week, I have to wonder did you ever see them play.
With the number of these gorilla forward types coming back into fashion again of late, you must expect teams will configure their backlines, or defensive setups to line up to counter them.
What I am suggesting is that we could present these backlines with a completely different set of problems.
Now if you go back to my post you will notice I was suggesting [which I do regularly] that we should always have a ruckman resting in the forward pocket, who would drop into the square behind a leading FF.
I am not arguing against, but in favour of a 195-200+ forward, but personally I don't accept that he needs to be a stay-at-home hulking great road block/statue. If we have 3 talls...CHF, resting ruck, and a FF, I think we become too lumbering if that FF isn't really mobile.
I don't mean these particular individuals, but personally I would much prefer a Tippet or Buddy type of FF to a Hawkins, Patton type. Tall, but more mobile.
If we don't play a second ruckman, we go on with the same problem we have now of needing to pull our key position players out of place to rest Will, and pretty clearly that does not work for us.
When Collingwood used a tall forward in lieu of a second ruck some years ago and started this fashion, they could do it because they had 3 genuine talls in their front half.
All I am saying is that while I want a genuine tall FF, I would prefer he be mobile and quick with good hands and a sound kick not just another big lump.